Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley is back with this month’s edition of Rob’s Ramblings! Scroll down to read the full blog.
bright and busy days
Has there ever been a more supportive group of colleagues than this season’s Resident Artists and Apprentices? You may think we were taking it easy while the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend consumes the area, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Festival takes this time to ensure all our cover casts are fully prepared as well as brushing up our big shows before we launch back into action for the busiest weeks of the season. Still in final rehearsals is our annual youth opera, Odyssey, which moves into the theater next week. We couple all that hard work with some well-deserved celebration as well – “work hard, play hard” is a good motto for this point in the season.
Cover Casts, Full Commitment
One of our Resident Artists’ many duties is to “cover” or “understudy” the principal artists (and each other) in case there is ever an occasion when someone is unwell or otherwise unable to go on for a performance. In a very busy Festival schedule, it is more likely than not that there will need to be a substitution at some point (although, knock on wood, we have had no substitutions so far this season…) This is also an invaluable opportunity for our Resident Artists to get some of these major roles under their belt for the first time.
Their cover preparation culminates in a full run-thru of each show for the entire cover cast, attended by the Festival artistic staff, many of the principal artists, and all the other Resident Artists. These are extraordinary occasions, with the huge depth of talent we have on hand at the Festival on full display. The energy in the room is electric – never was a more supportive or enthusiastic audience assembled. Meanwhile, our production department celebrates the opening of the four big shows by holding its annual traditional “shop party.” The crew goes to impressive lengths transforming our warehouse and parking lot into the best dance club and party venue in town, complete with food stations, photo opportunities, lounge areas, dance floors, lighting, and party games. Resident Artists turn DJ, departments outdo each other in their themed costume choices, Four-Square competitions heat up, and the entire company relaxes for a night.
Critical Acclaim Rolls In
And they have plenty to celebrate. As reviews roll in, it is clear that this fiftieth season is one of our most magical and memorable to date, not least because of the incredible testament to John Conklin’s life and work it represents. If you haven’t already seen these productions or are desperate to catch them again before the end of the Festival, I urge you to book tickets soon as several dates are either already sold out or approaching it. The buzz around all these shows is thrilling – you don’t want to miss them while they last. That’s the beauty of theater – these are unique events, and once a particular cast and production closes, it’s gone forever. We couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come in the last fifty years.
Don’t Miss These Events
And while you’re here for the Festival, please take in some of the other events on the calendar – they only add to the fun:
August 3 at 4:30 p.m. | The Glimmerglass Pavilion: The Guild’s annual wine tasting event is coming up fast – a perfect amuse-bouche to the opening of Odyssey that evening. Never before have we gathered four members of our artistic leadership team at the same piano, in music ranging from the truly sublime to the utterly ridiculous. Get your tickets here.
August 4 at 7:30 p.m. | Pierstown Grange Hall: Chamber Music Concert featuring members of the Glimmerglass Festival Orchestra. Free and open to the public.
August 5 at 4:30 p.m. | The Glimmerglass Pavilion: “Imagining Glimmerglass” – remembering the High School years. Dive into the Festival’s early history with the people who were part of it. Free and open to the public.
August 7 at 12:00 p.m. | Ballroom of the Otesaga Resort Hotel: Our final Midday Music of the season. I’m accompanying this program myself and have the pleasure of working with our stellar Anne Trulove from The Rake’s Progress, Lydia Grindatto, and Resident Artists Catherine Thornsley, John Kun Park, and Kendra Beasley. We have quite the show planned and the event is free and open to the public, so get there early for a good seat!
August 14 at 4:30 p.m. | The Glimmerglass Pavilion: “Becoming.” Our annual Artists-in-Residence concert, featuring all the Resident Artists in a program curated by Artists-in-Residence Greer Grimsley and Luretta Bybee – including a performance of Ralph Vaughan-Williams’s exquisite “Serenade to Music” for 16 soloists.
And of course, there are dinners, brunches, and preview talks aplenty to keep you engaged, informed, and well fed. Enjoy it all while it lasts and be sure to book your tickets for next season’s America 250 celebration while you’re on campus!
Finally, a reminder that we are creeping ever nearer to the $7 million mark in our big “Destined to Glimmerglass” campaign and would love to smash that $7.5 million mark by year-end. This campaign is critical to the future success and longevity of the Festival, and we want nothing more than to keep bringing phenomenal theater and music to the area for the next fifty years – why not be a part of making it happen? Thank you for all your support – long live the Festival!